GLOUCESTER STAGE: 'Bank Job' aims to start season off with a laugh

Tuesday

May 16, 2017 at 3:05 PMMay 16, 2017 at 3:05 PM

"I like it when comedies have some heat and some zing," says director Robert Walsh of "Bank Job," which opens the 2017 Gloucester Stage Company season this Friday. "I’m not opposed to doing fluffy, goofy stuff, but when a comedy has a message, that makes it a little more interesting."

By Keith Powers / Correspondent

If you go...

WHAT: "Bank Job," at the Gloucester Stage Company

WHERE: Gorton Theatre, 267 East Main St., Gloucester

WHEN: May 19 through June 10

TICKETS: $32-$42. Visit www.gloucesterstage.com or call 978-281-4433.

Don’t rob banks. People will laugh at you.

"I like it when comedies have some heat and some zing," says director Robert Walsh of "Bank Job," which opens the 2017 Gloucester Stage Company season this Friday. "I’m not opposed to doing fluffy, goofy stuff, but when a comedy has a message, that makes it a little more interesting."

"Bank Job," by playwright John Kolvenbach, debuted just last year at Kansas City’s Living Room Theatre. It involves two brothers who rob a bank — or at least try to.

"If I laugh out loud when I’m reading the script — well, that’s pretty much how I tell it’s funny," Walsh says.

"We have a great cast for this one," he says. "We’re lucky — usually, when you open in May, the other theaters have snatched up all the good actors."

Paul Melendy and Nael Nacer star as the bank robbing brothers. Johnny Lee Davenport returns to the GSC stage as Dale, the conniving security guard, and Richard McElvain returns as well in the role of Francis, the brothers’ father. Shuyi Jia makes her GSC debut as Jill, a hapless bank customer stuck in a bathroom stall.

"It’s like a little Rubik’s Cube when you put the season together," Walsh says. "But there’s no formula. I’m still scratching my head about last season — some of the plays that I thought would click — well, I was surprised that they didn’t do better.

"The feedback I get from audiences is that they like variety, and not being fed one thing all the time. And I think one of our responsibilities, and our mission, is to present new work. So long as we keep the quality of production high, we’ll continue to get high marks."

Staging comedy is always hard — it helps in this case to have a great cast. "Fitting ‘Bank Job’ into a thrust stage presents a few visual challenges," Walsh says. "There’s a couple special effects, and other things that have to happen physically, that have me holding my breath. But the rest of it is fun, with lots of twists and turns."

Kolvenbach has had a number of successes before "Bank Job," with plays presented in New York, London and Chicago. GSC general manager Jeff Zinn has directed two of his works, "Love Song" and "On an Average Day," at the Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater.

"I’m interested in bringing in certain directors," Walsh says, "and Jeff and I talk over the possibilities. But the competition is hard too. But from what I hear from audiences, it’s not unwise to open a season with a comedy like ‘Bank Job.’

"John’s work is delightful," Walsh says. "It’s offbeat, and it’s funny and warm."

Keith Powers covers music and the arts for GateHouse Media and WBUR’s ARTery. Follow @PowersKeith; email to keithmichaelpowers@gmail.com